Cessna T210L accident near Oneonta, New York, July 7, 2015
On July 7, 2015, a 1973 Cessna T210L, registered N59024, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Oneonta, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2015
- Place
- Oneonta, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L, built 1973 · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N59024 · no longer on the register · serial 21060030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, in preparation for a local flight, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included checking the fuel gauges, but that he did not look into the fuel tanks to verify the fuel quantity. He recalled that both fuel gauges indicated below 1/2 full. The engine start, taxi, and run-up were performed uneventfully; however, several minutes after takeoff, the engine lost all power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a cornfield about 6 miles north of the departure airport. The forced landing was performed with the landing gear retracted, and the airplane came to rest upright, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Due to injuries sustained in the accident, the pilot had no further recollection of the accident flight. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left main fuel tank had about 5 gallons of fuel remaining and that the right main fuel tank had no fuel. Additionally, the fuel selector was found positioned to the right main fuel tank. Further, no fuel was found in the fuel line connecting the gascolator to the engine-driven fuel pump and in the fuel line connecting the engine-driven fuel pump to the fuel flow divider.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,338 hours in all; 1,022 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,422 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2015; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 2,033 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N66 Oneonta NY at 11:50 pm
- Destination: N66 Oneonta NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from BGM, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 23, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Monitor Data | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts from Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 1 – Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.